Chapter 359: Act 119 – The Loop of Trade Winds (Part 2)
The Elder did not speak, but was pondering deeply within. The name Valhalla came from an ancient legend, which spoke of a fantastical land within the Loop of Trade Winds, a resting place for warriors, where one of the most primal sparks of the Vaunte world was stored.
As long as that spark was ignited, the order of the Karanjar Peninsula would be restored, potentially forming a guardian realm as vast as the Cruz Empire.
The Druids of the Withered Wood Council had guarded this secret for generations, which was also why they longed to enter the Loop of Trade Winds, to explore the truth behind this peculiar atmospheric circulation phenomenon.
However, Valhalla seemed to truly be a legend; it existed and yet did not exist. Countless Druids had traversed the outskirts of the Loop of Trade Winds, entering the Karanja Mountains, yet returned empty-handed.
The only gain was the ruins near the center of the Loop.
But the Elder was fully aware that what Andrew and the others had discovered was merely the outer area of the ruins. To reach the center meant entering the storm circle, the heart of the Loop, which no one could surpass.
As the Elder contemplated this, he raised his head to look at Brendel, “Mister Brendel, the recent changes at the far end of the Loop of Trade Winds, I believe Elder Gray Crow has already informed you?”
Brendel nodded. The changes in the Loop of Trade Winds stemmed from the rise and fall of magical tides; it was evident that this had not recently occurred.
“In fact, he withheld the truth. The troubles we face are far greater than this,” the Elder replied slowly.
Brendel remained silent upon hearing this. He looked at the seventeen Druid Elders, plus Gray Crow, making a total of eighteen. This should be the entirety of the Elders in the Sky Ring within this region—even including three Great Druids—suddenly he understood the significance of their gathering here.
The Druids were in trouble, and it sounded like no small matter, otherwise they wouldn’t have rushed here in desperation.
However, he did not seize the opportunity to demand much but merely nodded silently.
The Elder seemed quite satisfied with Brendel’s attitude. The young man’s humility led the Elder to believe he might indeed be a worthy human to engage with: “The Loop of Trade Winds.”
He cited, “This great atmospheric circulation begins at the eastern end of the Karanjar Peninsula, spiraling around the Karanja Mountains. It is the most spectacular natural phenomenon in southern Vaunte. On clear days, even in Toniger and the lands of Vlada, one can see this wall of white clouds stretching across from east to west, falling far down to the southern horizon of Erluin—”
“‘Geography of Lantonrand,’ a work by Master Turiman—” Brendel said, somewhat surprised. He had thought these Druids were truly detached from worldly affairs, but it seemed they still had contact with the civilized world, just not known to the public.
The Elder nodded, “The Sky Ring is a loosely organized group. The Druids each undertake their own duties, monitoring the movements in the Black Forest for a long time. Our Withered Wood Council has protected the secrets of the Loop of Trade Winds for generations.”
The Elder turned his gaze beyond the treetops to observe the white cloud wall spanning between heaven and earth in the south—thick clouds rising to thousands of meters high, extending infinitely to the east and west, with some birds soaring against the backdrop of this cloud wall, tiny as mere specks.
“This Black Forest to the south of Toniger has long been known within the Loop of Trade Winds as the most civilized wilderness; it is the most stable Black Forest surrounding the order of the Vaunte world.”
“Not only is the border of Toniger rarely attacked by monsters, but even deeper into the forest’s outskirts, it is difficult to find the traces of monsters.”
Brendel nodded in acknowledgment as he listened to the Elder’s description. What the other said was indeed the truth; the Black Forest at the Toniger border was famed for its mildness—otherwise, Erluin’s adventurers would not have dared to venture into the Black Forest from here for the first time.
They would not have been able to achieve the feat of penetrating deep into the Karanja Mountains so early too.
“Is it because of the Loop of Trade Winds?” the young Lord inquired.
His question not only surprised the Elder, but the other seventeen Druid Elders, including Gray Crow, all looked at him with incredulous expressions.
“How do you know?”
“We have spent a month in the Black Forest, encountered thunderstorms twice, snow once, had eleven days of fair weather, three days of scorching sun like summer, with the rest filled with cloudy days,” but Brendel paid no mind to their astonishment and continued, “There was exactly one week when the daylight lasted less than six hours and one day without night.”
“This is the Black Forest; the deeper one goes, the more obvious these changes become, and the more illogical phenomena arise.”
“But in such a capricious wilderness, there exists a massive atmospheric circulation that is unchanging—the Trade Winds arrive at the Karanjar Peninsula every year, accompanied by abundant rain; does that represent a form of underlying order?”
He looked at the Elder.
With a clang, the Elder’s staff slipped from his hand and fell to the ground. However, the Elder did not bend down to retrieve it; instead, he regarded Brendel with a complicated expression, “…You indeed understand this place very well.”
“Yes, as you surmised.” The Elder paused for a moment before continuing with Brendel’s words, “We discovered over a hundred years ago that the Loop of Trade Winds stabilizes the order in this region. However, this condition has recently changed.”
“What happened?” Brendel asked.
“It seems that some kind of anomaly has occurred within the Loop of Trade Winds, Mister Brendel—places we used to enter with ease have now become dangerous; crises lurk throughout the forest, and the ancient trees no longer provide us guidance. Inside it… inside it…” The Elder seemed to be deliberating over a suitable description, “It’s as if shrouded in a thick fog, unable to see or hear anything.”
“Is it just that?”
“No, since a few weeks ago, those entering the forest have also been attacked; some were injured, but fortunately, no one died.”
Upon hearing this, Brendel asked, “So you are worried, this is a sign. The power of the Loop of Trade Winds is gradually weakening, and it may be doomed. Once the Loop of Trade Winds collapses, the stabilizing factors of the Karanjar Peninsula will cease to exist, and the raging magical tide will erode this region, affecting even Toniger, turning the original guardian realm into nothingness?”
Brendel’s words struck home, and the Elder’s expression grew grave as he nodded.
Their concerns were not without reason, and the current Erluin Kingdom had no power to turn their gaze south. If a catastrophic change occurred on the Karanjar Peninsula, Toniger, and even the entire region of Rendener could regress back into savagery.
“You guessed correctly; such a possibility does exist,” Brendel thought for a moment before responding, “but this problem is not insurmountable.”
“A solution?” Andrew blurted out. How could the issue that these Elders had debated for half a month be resolved with a single sentence from this young man?
He couldn’t help but look at the other, wondering if this Lord was merely boasting.
“I’m quite curious,” Brendel replied, “Since you are aware of the magical tides, why are you unaware of the connection between the two?”
“You mean?” The Elder was taken aback, “The weakening of the Loop of Trade Winds is caused by the magical tides?”
“Isn’t it obvious that if one grows stronger, the other must weaken?”
“But wait, Mister Brendel! The previous magical tides were merely within this century; the Month of Magic doesn’t have such a strong influence!” The Elder asked in surprise.
Brendel slapped his forehead, suddenly realizing where the misunderstanding lay: “You aren’t aware of the Millennial Tides?”
“What is that?”
“The super tides that occur once every thousand years. The last tide ended the Year of Chaos, and this impending tide is soon to arrive. The Loop of Trade Winds has clearly undergone changes due to its influence,” Brendel replied.
At this moment, the Druids no longer doubted that this young Lord was simply talking big; their expressions all changed.
“I remember now,” Andrew suddenly said, “You also mentioned to me last time at the Cold Fir Territory, you said, ‘This era is nearing its end; the peak of the Month of Magic is about to arrive— the last magical tide ended the Year of Chaos; what will happen this time, no one knows. In such an environment, wanting to suppress the growth of the Black Forest is like a fantasy.'”
The burly Druid Elder exclaimed in frustration, “Ah, d*mn it! At that time, I completely overlooked it; I thought you were just speaking about ordinary magical tides!”
Brendel looked curiously at the more than ten Druid Elders, “But didn’t you inquire with the opinions of other members of the Sky Ring? I recall that although your organization is loose, isn’t there a headquarters in the sanctuary where many documents from previous eras are preserved? Doesn’t anyone know about the magical tides?”
“That’s correct,” the Elder replied. As for why Brendel knew their Druid secrets, he was no longer surprised—he now speculated if this young man had some connection to the Druids; otherwise, how could he know so much about their knowledge? “We Druids rely on the Trade Winds to convey information, a round trip at least takes a season. However, the next season is spring, which is the season of the Goddess. By the time we receive a reply, it will probably be summer.”
“I see.” Brendel nodded in understanding.
“Well,” he said, “let’s return to the topic at hand and discuss how to solve this problem. If we have to wait until after summer, I fear I won’t be able to wait that long.”
“Then does the Lord have a solution?” The Elder changed his address as well.
“I have no solutions,” Brendel replied, “only to respond to change with steadfastness.”
“What do you mean…?”
“Valhalla.”
…(To be continued. For more details, please log in for further chapters, support the author, and support genuine reading!)
